Office in difficult times: The Habeck successor stands before these tasks

The German economy is in the crisis, and the energy transition is also about important course – and the ministry loses competencies. Katherina Reiche (51), the designated new Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, is to succeed the incumbent Robert Habeck (Greens). Business associations externally high expectations of the CDU politician. However, your department could significantly lose in importance because the area of ​​climate protection goes to the Ministry of the Environment.

Energy manager and formerly in the Bundestag

Reiche is considered to be best networked in politics and business. Born in Brandenburg, she was a member of the Bundestag and State Secretary in two ministries before moving to the VKU Stadtwerkeverband in 2015. Five years later, she took over the chair of the Western energy energy supplier. BDI general manager Tanja Gönner said that the economy needed a strong voice and a lawyer for the economy. “The fact that an experienced energy manager and politician will be the new minister of economy and energy is an important signal for this.”

Rich with ex-minister

Privately, Reiche is with the former Defense and Economic Minister Karl-Theodor in Guttenberg. It was correct that his clients had received a relationship some time ago, the lawyer of Reiche and Guttenberg, Christian Schertz, said to the German press agency on request.

In the Reiches environment it was said that the business department should again become the “order policy conscience” of the federal government in the sense of Ludwig Erhard. This will be an enormous effort that only someone can cope with who penetrates the energy and economic turnaround and a clear market economy compass.

The legendary minister Erhard is the epitome of the successful Minister of Economic Affairs (1949-1963) from the time of the economic miracle after the Second World War, combined with “prosperity for everyone” and the concept of the social market economy. Ordinary policy means: The state sets the general framework for the economy, but ensures as few distortions as possible through government subsidies. Habeck’s subsidy policy in particular to support individual corporations, for example in semiconductors or batteries, caused criticism.

Economy in the crisis

The executive federal government awaits the third year in a row without growth in 2025. Many associations see a structural crisis: in international comparison, high energy prices, a high tax and tax load, too much bureaucracy, a lack of workers and long planning and approval procedures.

High expectations of rich

“The Ministry of Economic Affairs has to play a key role in the new coalition,” said Peter Adrian’s President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “We urgently need to find more dynamics again.” The entire new government quickly needs noticeable impulses, including reducing bureaucracy, taxes and the acceleration of planning and approval procedures.

Marie-Christine Ostermann, President of the Association of Family Enterprises, said: “Katherina Reiche faces a huge task. She takes on a slimmed down Ministry of Economic Affairs. Nevertheless, she has to set her accents. We family entrepreneurs expect none of Katherina Reiche than the promised economic transition.” The reduction of bureaucracy has top priority.

What is Reiche responsible for?

The question is what rich is responsible for. The SPD-led finance ministry should be responsible for the central economic and financial policy projects of the Union and SPD like an “investment booster”. Specifically, better conditions for depreciation are planned so that companies invest more. The Ministry of Justice was previously responsible for reducing bureaucracy, and the Ministry of Labor also plays an important role. According to the coalition agreement, both houses are in the SPD hand- as well as the Ministry of Environment and Climate Protection. There are threatens here in energy policy, especially in energy policy

It is also open whether Reiche gets the leadership for the promise of the new coalition to reduce electricity tax and reduce the levies and network charges – as well as which ministry is responsible for the reform of the controversial heating law.

Sanes in energy transition

Rich plays a central role in the energy transition, i.e. the gradual exit from fossil energies such as gas and oil.

Under Habeck, the expansion of the green electricity from the wind and sun picked up speed. The President of the Federal Association of Renewable Energy, Simone Peter, said: “Katherina Reiche has taken over a house in which the expansion of renewable energies in some sectors, especially wind and photovoltaics, has clearly gained impetus. Breaks in securing investments and thus the dynamic expansion of the two energy converter must be avoided.”

Lying on the laws

Under Habeck – and at the end of the traffic light coalition and the red -green minority government – there were central laws. On the one hand, it is about the underground storage of climate -damaging CO2 in Germany, and on the other hand about a law on the billion -dollar state funding of new gas power plants, which are to be built by 2030. Time is pushing. Investors have been waiting for framework conditions for a long time. The new gas power plants should step in in the future if the electricity requirement is not to be covered by renewable energies – in “dark down” when no sun is shining and no wind blows.

One of the priority tasks is also likely to be the expansion of the power grids. The Union and the SPD have announced a paradigm shift: According to the coalition agreement, new high-voltage equal current transmission networks, “where possible”, are to be implemented as overhead lines. So far, the large “electricity highways” has been a priority of the ground cable. With a view to “monster roads”, this should increase acceptance among the population for network expansion – but is much more expensive.